System and method for self-contained subslot bundling

ABSTRACT

An apparatus may configure x subframes with a subslot configuration that includes y subslots, y being greater than x. In an aspect, each subslot of the y subslots may include a first portion having one or more symbols for carrying at least one of data or control information, a second portion having a gap, and a third portion for carrying ACK/NACK information associated with the first portion. In an aspect, the second portion may be between the first portion and the third portion. In an aspect, the second portion and the third portion may include at most one symbol. The apparatus may send information indicating the subslot configuration to at least one neighboring base station. The apparatus may communicate content with a user equipment (UE) during at least one of the y subslots.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/703,867, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-CONTAINED SUB SLOTBUNDLING” and filed on Sep. 13, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/435,028, entitled “SELF-CONTAINEDSUBSLOT BUNDLING” and filed on Dec. 15, 2016. U.S. application Ser. Nos.15/703,867 and 62/435,028 are expressly incorporated by reference hereinin their entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore particularly, to a base station that may configure one or moresubframes with a configuration that includes two or more subslots.

Introduction

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustelecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,and broadcasts. Typical wireless communication systems may employmultiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication withmultiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of suchmultiple-access technologies include code division multiple access(CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency divisionmultiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous codedivision multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in varioustelecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enablesdifferent wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national,regional, and even global level. An example telecommunication standardis 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of a continuous mobile broadbandevolution promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) tomeet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security,scalability (e.g., with Internet of Things (IoT)), and otherrequirements. Some aspects of 5G NR may be based on the 4G Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard. There exists a need for further improvementsin 5G NR technology. These improvements may also be applicable to othermulti-access technologies and the telecommunication standards thatemploy these technologies.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium,and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may configure x subframeswith a subslot configuration that includes y subslots, y being greaterthan x. In an aspect, each subslot of the y subslots may include a firstportion having one or more symbols for carrying at least one of data orcontrol information, a second portion having a gap, and a third portionfor carrying acknowledgment (ACK)/negative acknowledgment (NACK)information associated with the first portion. In an aspect, the secondportion may be between the first portion and the third portion. In anaspect, the second portion and the third portion may include at most onesymbol. The apparatus may send information indicating the subslotconfiguration to at least one neighboring base station. The apparatusmay communicate content with a user equipment during at least one ofthey subslots. In an aspect, a number of symbols in the first portionmay be configurable based at least in part on the content to becommunicated. In an aspect, the first portion of a first subslot of theysubslots includes a different number of the one or more symbols than thefirst portion of a second subslot of they subslots. In an aspect, a subslot of they sub slots may cross a subframe boundary. In an aspect, theapparatus may puncture data or control information associated withenhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) with the content, and the content maybe associated with ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). Inan aspect, the apparatus may cause at least one other base station toreduce transmission power during the y subslots, wherein the at leastone other base station is at least a two-hop neighbor of the basestation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative featuresof the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspectsmay be employed, and this description is intended to include all suchaspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communicationssystem and an access network.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are diagrams illustrating examples of a DLframe structure,

DL channels within the DL frame structure, an UL frame structure, and ULchannels within the UL frame structure, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and userequipment (UE) in an access network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example wireless communications system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example subframe structure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example subslot configuration.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example subslot configuration.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example subslot configuration.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart of an example method of wireless communication.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart of an example method of wireless communication.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flowbetween different means/components in an exemplary apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus employing a processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented withreference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methodswill be described in the following detailed description and illustratedin the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits,processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”).These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computersoftware, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements areimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” thatincludes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs),central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors,systems on a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardwareconfigured to perform the various functionality described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system mayexecute software. Software shall be construed broadly to meaninstructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code,programs, subprograms, software components, applications, softwareapplications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects,executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whetherreferred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more example embodiments, the functions describedmay be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded asone or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage mediamay be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise arandom-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of theaforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other mediumthat can be used to store computer executable code in the form ofinstructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communicationssystem and an access network 100. The wireless communications system(also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes basestations 102, UEs 104, and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160. The basestations 102 may include macro cells (high power cellular base station)and/or small cells (low power cellular base station). The macro cellsinclude base stations. The small cells include femtocells, picocells,and microcells.

The base stations 102 (collectively referred to as Evolved UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN)) interface with the EPC 160 through backhaul links 132 (e.g.,S1 interface). In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 mayperform one or more of the following functions: transfer of user data,radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrity protection, headercompression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dualconnectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setupand release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS)messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, radio access network(RAN) sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriberand equipment trace, RAN information management (RIM), paging,positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 maycommunicate directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC 160) with eachother over backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2 interface). The backhaul links134 may be wired or wireless.

The base stations 102 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Eachof the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for arespective geographic coverage area 110. There may be overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110. For example, the small cell 102′ may havea coverage area 110′ that overlaps the coverage area 110 of one or moremacro base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell andmacro cells may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneousnetwork may also include Home Evolved Node Bs (eNBs) (HeNBs), which mayprovide service to a restricted group known as a closed subscriber group(CSG). The communication links 120 between the base stations 102 and theUEs 104 may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as reverse link)transmissions from a UE 104 to a base station 102 and/or downlink (DL)(also referred to as forward link) transmissions from a base station 102to a UE 104. The communication links 120 may use multiple-input andmultiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatialmultiplexing, beamforming, and/or transmit diversity. The communicationlinks may be through one or more carriers. The base stations 102/UEs 104may use spectrum up to Y MHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100 MHz) bandwidthper carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of YxMHz (x component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. Thecarriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. Allocation ofcarriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or lesscarriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). The component carriersmay include a primary component carrier and one or more secondarycomponent carriers. A primary component carrier may be referred to as aprimary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carrier may be referredto as a secondary cell (SCell).

Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using device-to-device(D2D) communication link 192. The D2D communication link 192 may use theDL/UL WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication link 192 may use one or moresidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel(PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physicalsidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink control channel(PSCCH). D2D communication may be through a variety of wireless D2Dcommunications systems, such as for example, FlashLinQ, WiMedia,Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, LTE, or NR.

The wireless communications system may further include a Wi-Fi accesspoint (AP) 150 in communication with Wi-Fi stations (STAs) 152 viacommunication links 154 in a 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum. Whencommunicating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the STAs 152/AP 150may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating inorder to determine whether the channel is available.

The small cell 102′ may operate in a licensed and/or an unlicensedfrequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum,the small cell 102′ may employ NR and use the same 5 GHz unlicensedfrequency spectrum as used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. The small cell 102′,employing NR in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, may boost coverage toand/or increase capacity of the access network.

The gNodeB (gNB) 180 may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) frequenciesand/or near mmW frequencies in communication with the UE 104. When thegNB 180 operates in mmW or near mmW frequencies, the gNB 180 may bereferred to as an mmW base station. Extremely high frequency (EHF) ispart of the RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters.Radio waves in the band may be referred to as a millimeter wave. NearmmW may extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100millimeters. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHzand 30 GHz, also referred to as centimeter wave. Communications usingthe mmW/near mmW radio frequency band has extremely high path loss and ashort range. The mmW base station 180 may utilize beamforming 184 withthe UE 104 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and shortrange.

The EPC 160 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 162, otherMMES 164, a Serving Gateway 166, a Multimedia Broadcast MulticastService (MBMS) Gateway 168, a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC)170, and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway 172. The MME 162 may be incommunication with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 174. The MME 162 isthe control node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 andthe EPC 160. Generally, the MME 162 provides bearer and connectionmanagement. All user Internet protocol (IP) packets are transferredthrough the Serving Gateway 166, which itself is connected to the PDNGateway 172. The PDN Gateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation aswell as other functions. The PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 areconnected to the IP Services 176. The IP Services 176 may include theInternet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS StreamingService, and/or other IP services. The BM-SC 170 may provide functionsfor MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170 may serveas an entry point for content provider MBMS transmission, may be used toauthorize and initiate MBMS Bearer Services within a public land mobilenetwork (PLMN), and may be used to schedule MBMS transmissions. The MBMSGateway 168 may be used to distribute MBMS traffic to the base stations102 belonging to a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN)area broadcasting a particular service, and may be responsible forsession management (start/stop) and for collecting eMBMS relatedcharging information.

The base station may also be referred to as a gNB, Node B, evolved NodeB (eNB), an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio basestation, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic serviceset (B SS), an extended service set (ESS), or some other suitableterminology. The base station 102 provides an access point to the EPC160 for a UE 104. Examples of UEs 104 include a cellular phone, a smartphone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system,a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearabledevice, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or smallkitchen appliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a display, or anyother similar functioning device. Some of the UEs 104 may be referred toas IoT devices (e.g., parking meter, gas pump, toaster, vehicles, heartmonitor, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, amobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit,a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, awireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriberstation, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, aremote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, orsome other suitable terminology.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in certain aspects, the base station 102 mayconfigure one or more subframes with a subslot configuration 198 thatincludes one or more subslots. In other words, the base station 102 mayconfigure x subframes with a subslot configuration that includes ysubslots. In an aspect, y may be greater than x. Each of the y subslotsmay include three portions: a first portion having one or more symbolsfor carrying at least one of data or control information, a secondportion having a gap, and a third portion for carrying acknowledgement(ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) information associated with thefirst portion. In an aspect, the second portion may be between the firstportion and the third portion. In an aspect, the second portion and thethird portion may be at most one symbol.

The base station 102 may be configured to communicate content (e.g.,data or control information) with a UE 104 during the y subslots of thesubslot configuration 198. The base station 102 may communicate at leasttwo types of content, a first of which may be associated with enhancedmobile broadband (eMBB) and a second of which may be associated withultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). In an aspect, the basestation 102 may puncture data or control information associated witheMBB with content that is associated with URLLC and may communicate thecontent associated with URLLC with the UE 104.

In an aspect, the base station 102 may configure a number of symbols inthe first portion of one or more subslots based at least in part on theURLLC content that is to be communicated with the UE 104. In an aspect,the base station 102 may configure a number of symbols in a firstportion of a first subslot to be different from a number of symbols in afirst portion of a second subslot. That is, the subslot configuration198 may include a plurality of subslots, but those plurality of subslotsdo not necessarily include the same number of symbols during arespective first portion. In an aspect, the base station 102 mayconfigure the subslot configuration 198 such that at least one subslotof the y subslots crosses a subframe boundary.

In order to improve communication of URLLC content (e.g., interferencemitigation), the base station 102 may send information indicating thesubslot configuration 198 to a first neighboring base station 180 a. Thefirst neighboring base station 180 a may be a one-hop neighbor orfirst-ring neighbor with respect to the base station 102. The basestation 102 may send the information indicating the subslotconfiguration 198 to the first neighboring base station 180 a using abackhaul link 134.

Further, the base station 102 may improve communication of URLLC content(e.g., interference mitigation) by causing a second neighboring basestation 180 b to reduce transmission power during the y subslots. In anaspect, the second neighboring base station 180 b may be at least atwo-hop neighbor with respect to the base station 102. In an aspect, thefirst neighboring base station 180 a may send information indicatingthat the second neighboring base station 180 b is to reduce transmissionpower at least during the y subslots, for example, based on the subslotconfiguration 198 received from the base station 102. For example, thefirst neighboring base station 180 a may send, using the backhaul link134, an indication that the second neighboring base station 180 b is toperform power fallback at least during one or more subframes configuredwith one or more subslots.

FIG. 2A is a diagram 200 illustrating an example of a DL framestructure. FIG. 2B is a diagram 230 illustrating an example of channelswithin the DL frame structure. FIG. 2C is a diagram 250 illustrating anexample of an UL frame structure. FIG. 2D is a diagram 280 illustratingan example of channels within the UL frame structure. Other wirelesscommunication technologies may have a different frame structure and/ordifferent channels. A frame (10 ms) may be divided into 10 equally sizedsubframes. Each subframe may include two consecutive time slots. Aresource grid may be used to represent the two time slots, each timeslot including one or more time concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (alsoreferred to as physical RBs (PRBs)). The resource grid is divided intomultiple resource elements (REs). For a normal cyclic prefix, an RB maycontain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 7consecutive symbols (for DL, OFDM symbols; for UL, SC-FDMA symbols) inthe time domain, for a total of 84 REs. For an extended cyclic prefix,an RB may contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and6 consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 72 REs. Thenumber of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, some of the REs carry DL reference (pilot)signals (DL-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The DL-RS may includecell-specific reference signals (CRS) (also sometimes called common RS),UE-specific reference signals (UE-RS), and channel state informationreference signals (CSI-RS). FIG. 2A illustrates CRS for antenna ports 0,1, 2, and 3 (indicated as R₀, R₁, R₂, and R₃, respectively), UE-RS forantenna port 5 (indicated as R5), and CSI-RS for antenna port 15(indicated as R).

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of various channels within a DL subframeof a frame. The physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) iswithin symbol 0 of slot 0, and carries a control format indicator (CFI)that indicates whether the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)occupies 1, 2, or 3 symbols (FIG. 2B illustrates a PDCCH that occupies 3symbols). The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI) withinone or more control channel elements (CCEs), each CCE including nine REgroups (REGs), each REG including four consecutive REs in an OFDMsymbol. A UE may be configured with a UE-specific enhanced PDCCH(ePDCCH) that also carries DCI. The ePDCCH may have 2, 4, or 8 RB pairs(FIG. 2B shows two RB pairs, each subset including one RB pair). Thephysical hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) (HARQ) indicator channel(PHICH) is also within symbol 0 of slot 0 and carries the HARQ indicator(HI) that indicates HARQ acknowledgement (ACK)/negative ACK (NACK)feedback based on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Theprimary synchronization channel (PSCH) may be within symbol 6 of slot 0within subframes 0 and 5 of a frame. The PSCH carries a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) that is used by a UE 104 to determinesubframe/symbol timing and a physical layer identity. The secondarysynchronization channel (SSCH) may be within symbol 5 of slot 0 withinsubframes 0 and 5 of a frame. The SSCH carries a secondarysynchronization signal (SSS) that is used by a UE to determine aphysical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Basedon the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identitygroup number, the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI).Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the locations of theaforementioned DL-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH), whichcarries a master information block (MIB), may be logically grouped withthe PSCH and SSCH to form a synchronization signal (SS) block. The MIBprovides a number of RBs in the DL system bandwidth, a PHICHconfiguration, and a system frame number (SFN). The physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system informationnot transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks(SIBs), and paging messages.

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, some of the REs carry demodulation referencesignals (DM-RS) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE mayadditionally transmit sounding reference signals (SRS) in the lastsymbol of a subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and a UE maytransmit SRS on one of the combs. The SRS may be used by a base stationfor channel quality estimation to enable frequency-dependent schedulingon the UL.

FIG. 2D illustrates an example of various channels within an UL subframeof a frame. A physical random access channel (PRACH) may be within oneor more subframes within a frame based on the PRACH configuration. ThePRACH may include six consecutive RB pairs within a subframe. The PRACHallows the UE to perform initial system access and achieve ULsynchronization. A physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) may belocated on edges of the UL system bandwidth. The PUCCH carries uplinkcontrol information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, a channelquality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rankindicator (RI), and HARQ ACK/NACK feedback. The PUSCH carries data, andmay additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a powerheadroom report (PHR), and/or UCI.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a base station 310 in communication with aUE 350 in an access network. In the DL, IP packets from the EPC 160 maybe provided to a controller/processor 375. The controller/processor 375implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality. Layer 3 includes a radioresource control (RRC) layer, and layer 2 includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, anda medium access control (MAC) layer. The controller/processor 375provides RRC layer functionality associated with broadcasting of systeminformation (e.g., MIB, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRCconnection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connectionmodification, and RRC connection release), inter radio access technology(RAT) mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurementreporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with headercompression/decompression, security (ciphering, deciphering, integrityprotection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLClayer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer packetdata units (PDUs), error correction through ARQ, concatenation,segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs),re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; andMAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channelsand transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks(TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling informationreporting, error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logicalchannel prioritization.

The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. Layer 1, which includes a physical (PHY) layer,may include error detection on the transport channels, forward errorcorrection (FEC) coding/decoding of the transport channels,interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels,modulation/demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antennaprocessing. The TX processor 316 handles mapping to signalconstellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binaryphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK),M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation(M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split intoparallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier,multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and/orfrequency domain, and then combined together using an Inverse FastFourier Transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a timedomain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded toproduce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channelestimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme,as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate may be derivedfrom a reference signal and/or channel condition feedback transmitted bythe UE 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a differentantenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318TX. Each transmitter 318TX maymodulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream fortransmission.

At the UE 350, each receiver 354RX receives a signal through itsrespective antenna 352. Each receiver 354RX recovers informationmodulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the receive(RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatialprocessing on the information to recover any spatial streams destinedfor the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350,they may be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbolstream. The RX processor 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream fromthe time-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform(FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbolstream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on eachsubcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated bydetermining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted bythe base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on channelestimates computed by the channel estimator 358. The soft decisions arethen decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signalsthat were originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physicalchannel. The data and control signals are then provided to thecontroller/processor 359, which implements layer 3 and layer 2functionality.

The controller/processor 359 can be associated with a memory 360 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 359provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signalprocessing to recover IP packets from the EPC 160. Thecontroller/processor 359 is also responsible for error detection usingan ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DLtransmission by the base station 310, the controller/processor 359provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information(e.g., MIB, SIBs) acquisition, RRC connections, and measurementreporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with headercompression/decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering,integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionalityassociated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correctionthrough ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs,re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; andMAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channelsand transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs,demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting,error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channelprioritization.

Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator 358 from a referencesignal or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used bythe TX processor 368 to select the appropriate coding and modulationschemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streamsgenerated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antenna352 via separate transmitters 354TX. Each transmitter 354TX may modulatean RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

The UL transmission is processed at the base station 310 in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the receiver function atthe UE 350. Each receiver 318RX receives a signal through its respectiveantenna 320. Each receiver 318RX recovers information modulated onto anRF carrier and provides the information to a RX processor 370.

The controller/processor 375 can be associated with a memory 376 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 375provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processingto recover IP packets from the UE 350. IP packets from thecontroller/processor 375 may be provided to the EPC 160. Thecontroller/processor 375 is also responsible for error detection usingan ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wireless communications system 400. Thewireless communications system 400 may include a plurality of basestations 402, 410, 414, each configured to provide a respective cell408, 411, 418. Each of the base stations 402, 410, 414 may be configuredto communicate with one or more UEs 404, 406, 412, 416 operating on therespective cells 408, 411, 418.

In one aspect, the first base station 402 may be configured tocommunicate according to eMBB as well as URLLC. In the illustratedaspect, the first base station 402 may communicate with a first UE 404according to URLLC and, additionally, may communicate with a second UE406 according to eMBB. The neighboring base stations 410, 414 may beconfigured to communicate according to at least eMBB. According to oneor more 3GPP technical specifications, both URLLC and eMBB may beregarded as 5G technologies.

In an aspect, the base stations 402, 410, 414 may be configured to use aNR frame structure at least within a cyclic prefix (CP) overhead. Thedescription of NR frame structure is to be regarded as illustrative, andthe present disclosure comprehends other structures or arrangements inaddition to those described herein.

In one aspect, the reference numerology for a subframe definition may befourteen (14). For example, the base stations 402, 410, 414 may beconfigured to communicate during a subframe that includes fourteensymbols.

In an aspect, the NR frame structure may include slots of a durationthat is less than the reference numerology for a subframe (e.g., anumber of symbols per slot may be fewer than a number of symbols persubframe). In an aspect, an integer number of slots may fit within onesubframe duration (e.g., at least for subcarrier spacing that is largerthan or equal to the reference numerology). In an aspect, this slotstructure may allow for control information at the beginning, end, orboth the beginning and end of a slot. The slot configuration may be onepossible scheduling unit implemented by the one or more base stations402, 410, 414.

In an aspect, the NR frame structure may include a subslotconfiguration, which may also be known as a “mini-slot” or anothernaming convention related to a transmission time interval (TTI). Thesubslot configuration may support transmission time that is shorter thanthe reference numerology (and, possibly, the slot numerology). Forexample, the reference numerology for a subframe may be fourteen, andthe numerology for a subslot may be less than fourteen (and may be lessthan the slot numerology, as well). In one aspect, a subslot may be thesmallest scheduling unit implemented by one or more base stations 402,410, 414. In one aspect, the subslot configuration may indicate thatcontrol information may occur at the beginning of a subslot, the end ofa subslot, or both the beginning and the end of a subslot. In oneaspect, the slot structure and subslot structure may be merged or,alternatively, the slot configuration may be absent.

As indicated, the first base station 402 may communicate URLLC content.In one aspect, URLLC content may be predictable (e.g., periodic), inwhich case at least one semi-static resource may be reserved forfrequency-division multiplexing (FDM) or time-division multiplexing(TDM) of URLLC content with eMBB information. In one aspect, URLLCcontent may be less predictable (e.g., sporadic), in which case thefirst base station 402 may be configured to puncture eMBB informationwith URLLC content. URLLC may require packet delivery to occur withstringent latency constraints and/or relatively low packet error rate.Therefore, interference due to coexistence with other systems may havedetrimental consequences to the performance of URLLC. URLLC content maybe prioritized over eMBB information and, therefore, the first basestation 402 may perform one or more operations in order to mitigateinter-cell interference and improve quality of URLLC communication.

According to aspects, the first base station 402 may configure xsubframes (including a first subframe 430) with a sub slot configurationthat includes y sub slots (including a set of subslots 420 a, 420 b, 422a, 422 b). In an aspect, y may be greater than x—i.e., the number ofsubslots may be greater than the number of subframes and, consequently,the duration (e.g., number of symbols) of each subframe may be greaterthan the duration (e.g., number of symbols) of each sub slot.

In the illustrated aspect, a subframe may include fourteen symbols(e.g., the reference numerology); however, the present disclosurecontemplates subframe configurations having a different number of theone or more symbols. The first base station 402 may configure a firstsubframe 430 with a sub slot configuration that includes a plurality ofsubslots 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 b. For example, the first base station402 may configure the first subframe 430 to include two subslots 420 a,420 b associated with eMBB. The subslots 420 a, 420 b associated witheMBB may carry data or control information associated with eMBB, whichmay be communicated with the second UE 406. Additionally, the first basestation 402 may configure the first subframe 430 to include two subslots422 a, 422 b associated with URLLC. The subslots 422 a, 422 b associatedwith URLLC may carry data or control information associated with URLLC,which may be communicated with the first UE 404.

Each of they subslots may include three portions: a first portion havingone or more symbols for carrying at least one of data or controlinformation, a second portion having a gap, and a third portion forcarrying ACK/NACK information associated with the first portion. In anaspect, the second portion may be between the first portion and thethird portion. In an aspect, the second portion and the third portionmay be at most one symbol.

In the illustrated aspect, the first base station 402 may configure afirst eMBB subslot 420 a to include first portion 440 a that is twosymbols, but may configure a second eMBB subslot 420 b to include afirst portion 440 b that is four symbols. Each of the eMBB subslots 420a, 420 b may include a respective second portion 442 a, 442 b having agap and a respective third portion 444 a, 444 b for carrying ACK/NACKinformation.

Similarly, the first base station 402 may configure a first URLLCsubslot 422 a to include first portion 450 a that is two symbols and mayconfigure a second URLLC subslot 422 b to include a first portion 450 bthat is also two symbols. Each of the URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b mayinclude a respective second portion 452 a, 452 b having a gap and arespective third portion 454 a, 454 b for carrying ACK/NACK information.

According to this configuration, each subslot 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 bmay be regarded as “self-contained” because each subslot 420 a, 420 b,422 a, 422 b includes both a respective first portion 440 a, 440 b, 450a, 450 b for carrying data or control information and a respective thirdportion 444 a, 444 b, 454 a, 454 b for carrying ACK/NACK informationassociated with the respective first portion 440 a, 440 b, 450 a, 450 b.

While the present disclosure illustrates a specific number of symbolsfor the set of subslots 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 b, other configurationsare possible without departing from the present disclosure. For example,the URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b may include greater or fewer than twosymbols and/or may include a different number of the one or more symbolswith respect to other URLLC subslots. Furthermore, the first basestation 402 may configure a subslot to cross a subframe boundary.

The first base station 402 may be configured to communicate content 484(e.g., data or control information) with the first UE 404 during theURLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b. In an aspect, the first base station 402may puncture data or control information associated with eMBB withcontent 484 that is associated with URLLC and may communicate thecontent 484 associated with URLLC with the first UE 404. According toone aspect, the first base station 402 may configure the number ofsymbols of each first portion 450 a, 450 b of each URLLC subslot 422 a,422 b based at least in part on the content 484 to be communicated. Forexample, the first base station 402 may determine URLLC content to becommunicated to the first UE 404 (e.g., based on arrival of one or moreURLLC packets from a higher layer) and may determine a number of symbolsthat are to carry the content. The first base station 402 may configurethe first subframe 430 to include the two URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 bhaving respective two-symbol first portions 450 a, 450 b based on thecontent 484 to be communicated to the first UE 404.

In various aspects, the first base station 402 may reconfigure thesubslot configuration following the subframe 430. For example, the firstbase station 402 may determine that a different number of symbols are tobe used to communicate content during a subsequent subframe, forexample, because URLLC traffic may be sporadic and/or unpredictable.Consequently, the subslot configuration may not be static, and the firstbase station 402 may reconfigure the subslot configuration at any time.

In order to improve communication of URLLC content (e.g., interferencemitigation), the first base station 402 may send information 480indicating the subslot configuration to a first neighboring base station410. The information 480 indicating the subslot configuration mayinclude, for example, a number of subslots, an indication of a number ofsymbols for a respective first portion of each subslot, or essentiallyany other information from which the first neighboring base station 410may derive the subslot configuration implemented by the first basestation 402.

Based on the information 480 indicating the subslot configuration, thefirst neighboring base station 410 may configure x subframes into ysubslots. Accordingly, the subslots 460 a, 460 b, 460 c, 460 d duringwhich the first neighboring base station 410 communicates may besynchronized with the subslots 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 b during whichthe first base station 402 communicates. That is, the first neighboringbase station 410 may configure boundaries of subslots 460 a, 460 b, 460c, 460 d to be synchronized with the boundaries of the subslots 420 a,420 b, 422 a, 422 b configured by the first base station 402. However,the type of data carried in a first portion of the subslots 460 a, 460b, 460 c, 460 d of the first neighboring base station 410 may not besynchronized. For example, the first neighboring base station 410 maycommunicate according to eMBB and not URLLC and, therefore, the firstneighboring base station 410 may not include URLLC subslots, such as theURLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b configured by the first base station 402.

The first neighboring base station 410 may be a one-hop neighbor orfirst-ring neighbor with respect to the first base station 402. In oneaspect, a one-hop neighbor or first-ring neighbor may be a base stationwith which the first base station 402 may communicate without traversingany intervening nodes (e.g., another base station). The first basestation 402 may send the information 480 indicating the subslotconfiguration to the first neighboring base station 410 using a backhaullink (e.g., via the X2 interface). Because the subslot configuration maybe reconfigured (e.g., by the first base station 402), the first basestation 402 and the first neighboring base station 410 may maintainsynchronization of subslots. For example, the first base station 402 maysend information 480 indicating a subslot configuration each time thefirst base station 402 reconfigures the subslot configuration.

In various aspects, the first base station 402 may improve communicationof URLLC content (e.g., interference mitigation) by causing a secondneighboring base station 414 to reduce transmission power during the ysubslots. In an aspect, the second neighboring base station 414 may beat least a two-hop neighbor with respect to the first base station 402.In one aspect, a two-hop neighbor or second-ring neighbor may be a basestation with which the first base station 402 may communicate bytraversing at least one intervening node (e.g., the first neighboringbase station 410). Because the second neighboring base station 414 is atwo-hop neighbor, the first neighboring base station 410 may send theinformation 482 indicating that the second neighboring base station 414is to perform power fallback during the subframe 470 that overlaps withURLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b. The first neighboring base station 410 maysend the information 482 over a wireless and/or wired connection,including over the air interface or over a backhaul link.

In an aspect, the first neighboring base station 410 may sendinformation 482 indicating that the second neighboring base station 414is to reduce transmission power at least during at least one of the ysubslots, for example, based on the information 480 indicating thesubslot configuration received from the first base station 402. Forexample, when the first base station 402 sends the information 480indicating the subslot configuration to the first neighboring basestation 410, the first base station 402 may indicate to the secondneighboring base station 414 that the second neighboring base station414 to perform power fallback during a subframe 470 that overlaps withURLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b. In an aspect, power fallback may beperformed for a portion of the subframe 470, such as the portion thatoverlaps with the URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b.

Based on the information 482 indicating that the second neighboring basestation 414 is to perform the power fallback, the second neighboringbase station 414 may reduce transmission power during the subframe 470.This power fallback by the second neighboring base station 414 may avoida ripple effect in which base stations configure subframes with asubslot configuration that may not be necessary. Additionally, the powerfallback may protect an uplink common burst (UCB) channel used in thefirst neighboring cell 411 (e.g., the UCB channel may carry ACK/NACKinformation associated with the subslots 460 a, 460 b, 460 c, 460 d). Inan aspect, the second neighboring base station 414 may perform powerfallback during a portion of the subframe 470 (rather than during theentire subframe 470).

The second neighboring base station 414 may, in a subsequent subframe,increase transmission power (e.g., return to a transmission powerutilized prior to reception of the information 482 indicating that thesecond neighboring base station 414 is to perform the power fallback).However, because the subslot configuration may be reconfigured (e.g., bythe first base station 402), the first base station 402 may cause thesecond neighboring base station 414 to reduce transmission power in oneor more additional subframes, for example, when the first base station402 sends information 480 indicating a subslot reconfiguration.

FIG. 5 illustrates a subframe structure 500, according to an aspect. Thesubframe structure 500 may include a self-contained subframe 510. Thatis, the self-contained subframe 510 may include a portion 518 forcarrying ACK/NACK information. In an aspect, the ACK/NACK informationmay be carried on an UCB channel.

In aspects, a base station may communicate content in a URLLC cell 508during the self-contained subframe 510. When a URLLC packet 540 arrives(e.g., from a higher layer), the base station may puncture data orcontrol information associated with eMBB with URLLC content derived fromthe URLLC packet 540. For example, the URLLC content from the URLLCpacket 540 may be carried in two symbols of a URLLC portion 514 of theself-contained subframe 510. The corresponding ACK/NACK information 520for the URLLC content carried in the URLLC portion 514 may occur duringthe ACK/NACK portion 518 at the end of the self-contained subframe 510.

Because URLLC may adhere to low-latency and/or low-error raterequirements, the URLLC content may be punctured into the self-containedsubframe 510 as soon as the URLLC packet 540 arrives. Consequently, aneMBB portion 512 b may occur between the URLLC portion 514 and theACK/NACK portion 518. This intervening eMBB portion 512 b may lead to anunsatisfactory delay in communicating ACK/NACK information 520, forexample, because a base station would be unaware of the reception statusof the URLLC content (communicated in the middle of the self-containedsubframe 510) until the end of the self-contained subframe 510.Accordingly, a URLLC cell may benefit from a self-contained subslotconfiguration.

FIG. 6 illustrates a subslot configuration 600, according to an aspect.In an aspect, an eMBB/URLLC cell 602 (e.g., the first cell 408 providedby the first base station 402) may configure x subframes (including thesubframe 608) with a subslot configuration that includes y subslots(including the self-contained subslot 620). At least one subslot may bea self-contained subslot (e.g., the self-contained subslot 620). Thesubslot 620 may be regarded as “self-contained” because the subslot 620includes at least a first portion 622 for carrying data or controlinformation and a third portion 626 for carrying ACK/NACK informationassociated with the first portion 622 (n.b., the subslot 620 may includea second portion 624 that is a gap between the first and thirdportions). That is, the self-contained subslot 620 may include a portion626 for carrying ACK/NACK information.

The subframe 608 configured with the self-contained subslot 620 mayinclude a separate portion 616 for carrying ACK/NACK information (e.g.,associated with eMBB data or control information carried in anotherportion 612 of the subframe). In an aspect, the ACK/NACK information maybe carried on a UCB channel.

In aspects, a base station may communicate content in a EMBB/URLLC cell602 during the subframe 608. When a URLLC packet 640 arrives (e.g., froma higher layer), the base station may puncture data or controlinformation associated with eMBB with URLLC content derived from theURLLC packet 640. For example, the URLLC content from the URLLC packet640 may be carried in two symbols of a self-contained subslot 620.Because URLLC may adhere to low-latency and low-error rate requirements,the URLLC content may be punctured into the self-contained subslot 620as soon as the URLLC packet 640 arrives.

In an eMBB cell 604, which may neighbor the eMBB/URLLC cell 602, data orcontrol information associated with eMBB may be communicated during asubframe 606 that overlaps with the self-contained subslot 620. ThiseMBB traffic during the eMBB subframe 606 may cause interference 642 tothe self-contained subslot 620. For example, the interference 642 mayprevent a base station from receiving and/or decoding ACK/NACKinformation associated with the first portion 622 of the self-containedsubslot 620. Accordingly, the URLLC (or URLCC/eMBB) cell may benefitwhen the subslot configuration of the URLLC cell is synchronized with aneighboring cell. For example, interference 642 may be absent during thethird portion 626 if the subframe 606 of the eMBB cell 604 is configuredso that eMBB data or control information is not communicated during aportion of the subframe 606 that overlaps with the third portion 626 ofthe self-contained subslot 620.

FIG. 7 illustrates a subslot configuration 700, according to variousaspects. In various aspects, a subframe 702 may be configured in cell(e.g., the first cell 408, the EMBB/URLLC cell 602) based on a referencenumerology, such as fourteen. The subframe 702 may include a portion 704that is to carry data and/or control information, a gap 706, and aportion 708 that is to carry ACK/NACK information (e.g., on a UCBchannel). According to aspects, the subframe 702 may be configured inorder to carry data associated with eMBB.

In various aspects, a base station (e.g., the first base station 402)may configure the subframe 702 into the plurality of subslots 712 a, 712b, 712 c, 712 d. Each subslot 712 may be configured to include a firstportion 714 having one or more symbols for carrying at least one of dataor control information. Each subslot 712 may include a second portion716 having a gap. Each subslot 712 may include a third portion 718 forcarrying ACK/NACK information associated with the first portion 714. Thesecond portion 716 may occur between the first portion 714 and the thirdportion 718. In an aspect, the second portion 716 and the third portion718 may be at most one symbol.

The base station may puncture one or more of the subslots 712 a, 712 b,712 c, 712 d with URLLC data or control information, for example, when aURLLC packet is received (e.g., from a higher layer). In one aspect, thebase station may configure a number of symbols for the first portion 714based at least in part on URLLC content (e.g., data and/or controlinformation) to be communicated. In an aspect, the base station mayconfigure the number of symbols for the first portion before determiningthe URLLC content (e.g., before a URLLC packet arrives from a higherlayer). Accordingly, the base station may be able to puncture eMBBinformation with URLLC content as soon as the URLLC content isdetermined.

The base station may send information indicating the subslotconfiguration 710 to at least one neighboring base station (e.g., thefirst neighboring base station 410). Based on the information indicatingthe subslot configuration 710, the neighboring base station mayconfigure at least one subframe to by synchronized with the subslotconfiguration 710 configured by the base station. Accordingly, therespective first, second, and third portions of subslots in theneighboring cell provided by the neighboring base station may occurcontemporaneously with the respective first portions 714 a, 714 b, 714c, 714 d, second portions 716 a, 716 b, 716 c, 716 d, and third portions718 a, 718 b, 718 c, 718 d during which the base station communicates.This synchronization may mitigate interference. For example, theACK/NACK information carried in the third portions 718 a, 718 b, 718 c,718 d may not experience interference 642 from downlink transmissionsthat occur during the subframe 606 in a neighboring eMBB cell 604.

FIG. 8 illustrates a subslot configuration 800, according to variousaspects. In various aspects, two subframes 806 a, 806 b may beconfigured in cell (e.g., the first cell 408, the eMBB/URLLC cell 602)into a plurality of subslots 810 a, 810 b, 810 c, 810 d, 810 e, 810 f,810 g.

In various aspects, a base station (e.g., the first base station 402)may configure the subframes 806 a, 806 b into the plurality of subslots810 a, 810 b, 810 c, 810 d, 810 e, 810 f, 810 g. Each subslot 810 may beconfigured to include a first portion 812 having one or more symbols forcarrying at least one of data or control information. Each subslot 810may include a second portion 814 having a gap. Each subslot 810 mayinclude a third portion 816 for carrying ACK/NACK information associatedwith the first portion 812. The second portion 814 may occur between thefirst portion 812 and the third portion 816. In an aspect, the secondportion 814 and the third portion 816 may be at most one symbol. Invarious aspects, the base station may configure the subframes 806 a, 806b with a subslot configuration that crosses a subframe boundary 804.

While the subslots 810 a, 810 b, 810 c, 810 d, 810 e, 810 f, 810 g areillustrated as each including four symbols, the base station mayconfigure the subframes 806 a, 806 b with a subslot configuration inwhich a subslot has another number of symbols (e.g., two, three, five,seven, etc.). Additionally, the base station may configure the subframes806 a, 806 b with a subslot configuration in which at least two subslotshave a different number of symbols from one another—e.g., the firstsubslot 810 a may include four symbols, whereas the second subslot 810 bmay include two symbols.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart of a method 900 of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station 102,the base station 402, the apparatus 1002/1002′). While the method 900illustrates a plurality of discrete operations, the present disclosurecontemplates aspects in which one or more operations are transposed,omitted, and/or contemporaneously performed.

Beginning at 902, a first base station may configure x subframes with asubslot configuration that includes y subslots. For example, the firstbase station may schedule at least one subframe, and the first basestation may schedule a plurality of subslots during the at least onesubframe. In aspects, y may be greater than x. Each subslot of the ysubslots may include a first portion having one or more symbols forcarrying at least one of data or control information, a second portionhaving a gap, and a third portion for carrying ACK/NACK informationassociated with the first portion. The second portion may occur betweenthe first portion and the third portion. In aspects, the second portionand the third portion may include at most one symbol.

In one aspect, the first portion of a first subslot of they subslots mayinclude a different number of the one or more symbols than the firstportion of a second subslot of the y subslots. For example, the firstsubslot may include a first portion having two symbols for carrying atleast one of data or control information, whereas the second subslot mayinclude a first portion having four symbols for carrying at least one ofdata or control information.

In one aspect, the number of symbols in the first portion may beconfigurable based at least in part on content that is to becommunicated to a UE. For example, the first base station may determinea number of symbols required to communicate content (e.g., URLLCcontent) based on one or more packets (e.g., packet(s) received from ahigher layer of the first base station).

In the context of FIG. 4, the first base station 402 may configure thefirst subframe 430 with a subframe configuration that includes the setof subslots 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 b. According to another example, abase station may configure a subframe that includes the self-containedsubslot 620. According to another example, a base station may configurea subframe 702 with the subslot configuration 710. According to anotherexample, a base station may configure a plurality of subframes 806 a,806 b with a subframe configuration that includes a plurality ofsubslots 810 a, 810 b, 810 c, 810 d, 810 e, 810 f, 810 g, and at leastone subslot 810 d may cross a subframe boundary 804.

At operation 904, the first base station may send information indicatingthe subslot configuration to at least a first neighboring base station.Based on the information indicating the sub slot configuration, thefirst neighboring base station may configure x subframes with a subframeconfiguration that includes y subslots so that the subslot configurationused in a cell provided by the first neighboring base station issynchronized with the subslot configuration used in a cell provided bythe first base station. The first neighboring base station may be aone-hop neighbor or first-ring neighbor with respect to the first basestation, and this subslot configuration synchronization may mitigateinterference, introduced by the first neighboring base station, tocontent (e.g., URLLC content) communicated by the first base stationduring one or more subslots of they subslots. In the context of FIG. 4,the first base station 402 may send information 480 indicating thesubslot configuration.

At operation 910, the first base station may communicate content with aUE during at least one of they subslots. For example, the first basestation may send content (e.g., URLLC content, data or controlinformation, etc.) in at least one subslot of the y subslots. In thecontext of FIG. 4, the first base station 402 may communicate content484 (e.g., data or control information) with the first UE 404 during atleast one of the URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart of a method 920 of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station 102,the base station 402, the apparatus 1002/1002′). While the method 900illustrates a plurality of discrete operations, the present disclosurecontemplates aspects in which one or more operations are transposed,omitted, and/or contemporaneously performed.

Beginning at 922, a first base station may configure x subframes with asubslot configuration that includes y subslots. For example, the firstbase station may schedule at least one subframe, and the first basestation may schedule a plurality of subslots during the at least onesubframe. In aspects, y may be greater than x. Each subslot of the ysubslots may include a first portion having one or more symbols forcarrying at least one of data or control information, a second portionhaving a gap, and a third portion for carrying ACK/NACK informationassociated with the first portion. The second portion may occur betweenthe first portion and the third portion. In aspects, the second portionand the third portion may include at most one symbol.

In one aspect, the first portion of a first subslot of they subslots mayinclude a different number of the one or more symbols than the firstportion of a second subslot of the y subslots. For example, the firstsubslot may include a first portion having two symbols for carrying atleast one of data or control information, whereas the second subslot mayinclude a first portion having four symbols for carrying at least one ofdata or control information.

In one aspect, the number of symbols in the first portion may beconfigurable based at least in part on content that is to becommunicated to a UE. For example, the first base station may determinea number of symbols required to communicate content (e.g., URLLCcontent) based on one or more packets (e.g., packet(s) received from ahigher layer of the first base station).

In the context of FIG. 4, the first base station 402 may configure thefirst subframe 430 with a subframe configuration that includes the setof sub slots 420 a, 420 b, 422 a, 422 b. According to another example, abase station may configure a subframe that includes the self-containedsubslot 620. According to another example, a base station may configurea subframe 702 with the subslot configuration 710. According to anotherexample, a base station may configure a plurality of subframes 806 a,806 b with a subframe configuration that includes a plurality ofsubslots 810 a, 810 b, 810 c, 810 d, 810 e, 810 f, 810 g, and at leastone subslot 810 d may cross a subframe boundary 804.

At operation 924, the first base station may send information indicatingthe subslot configuration to at least a first neighboring base station.Based on the information indicating the sub slot configuration, thefirst neighboring base station may configure x subframes with a subframeconfiguration that includes y subslots so that the subslot configurationused in a cell provided by the first neighboring base station issynchronized with the subslot configuration used in a cell provided bythe first base station. The first neighboring base station may be aone-hop neighbor or first-ring neighbor with respect to the first basestation, and this subslot configuration synchronization may mitigateinterference, introduced by the first neighboring base station, tocontent (e.g., URLLC content) communicated by the first base stationduring one or more subslots of they subslots. In the context of FIG. 4,the first base station 402 may send information 480 indicating thesubslot configuration.

At operation 926, the first base station may cause a second neighboringbase station to reduce transmission power during at least one subslot ofthe y subslots. For example, the first base station may send informationintended (e.g., addressed) for a second neighboring base station, andthe information may indicate a request or instruction for the secondneighboring base station to reduce a transmission power. In an aspect,the second neighboring base station may be at least a two-hop neighboror second-ring neighbor with respect to the first base station. Becausethe second neighboring base station is at least a two-hop neighbor, thefirst neighboring base station may send the information indicating thatthe second neighboring base station is to reduce transmission powerduring at least one subslot of the y subslots, for example, based on theinformation indicating the subslot configuration that is sent by thefirst base station. Based on the information indicating that the secondneighboring base station is to reduce transmission power, the secondneighboring base station may reduce transmission power during at leastone subslot of they subslots (e.g., during a subframe that occurscontemporaneously with the at least one subslot of the y subslots).

In the context of FIG. 4, the first base station 402 may cause thesecond neighboring base station 414 to reduce transmission power duringat least one of the URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b. The first base station402 may cause the second neighboring base station 414 to reducetransmission power by sending the information 480 indicating the subslotconfiguration to the first neighboring base station 410. Based on theinformation 480 indicating the subslot configuration received from thefirst base station 402, the first neighboring base station 410 may sendinformation 482 indicating that the second neighboring base station 414is to reduce transmission power at least during at least one of theURLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b.

At operation 928, the first base station may puncture data or controlinformation associated with eMBB content with content associated withURLLC. For example, the first base station may obtain a URLLC packet(e.g., from a higher layer of the first base station). According to oneaspect, when a URLLC packet arrives (e.g., from a higher layer of thefirst base station), the first base station may puncture data or controlinformation associated with eMBB with URLLC content included in theURLLC packet. For example, the first base station may remove one or morebits associated with eMBB and include one or more bits associated withURLLC content. In an aspect, the URLLC content from a URLLC packet maybe carried in two symbols of a first portion of at least one subslot ofthe y subslots, and the first base station may puncture informationassociated with eMBB with URLLC content to be carried in the two symbolsof the first portion of the at least one subslot of they subslots.

In the context of FIG. 4, the first base station may puncture data orcontrol information associated with eMBB that would be carried in atleast one of the two URLLC subslots 422 a, 422 b with URLLC content 484.In another example, a base station may puncture data or controlinformation associated with eMBB that would be carried in the firstportion 622 of the self-contained sub slot 620 with URLLC contentincluded in the URLLC packet 640.

At operation 930, the first base station may communicate content with aUE during at least one of they subslots. For example, the first basestation may send the URLLC content punctured at the at least one subslot of they sub slots. In the context of FIG. 4, the first base station402 may communicate content 484 (e.g., data or control information) withthe first UE 404 during at least one of the URLLC sub slots 422 a, 422b.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual data flow diagram 1000 illustrating the dataflow between different means/components in an exemplary apparatus 1002.The apparatus 1002 may be a base station. The various components anddata flow are intended to be illustrative, and other components and dataflow may be present.

The apparatus 1002 may include a reception component 1004 configured toreceive signals (e.g., from a UE 1050 and/or from a neighboring basestation 1060, 1070). The apparatus 1002 may include a transmissioncomponent 1010 configured to transmit signals (e.g., to the UE 1050and/or to a neighboring base station 1060, 1070).

In aspects, the apparatus 1002 may include a configuration component1008 that may configure x subframes with a subslot configuration thatincludes y subslots, and y may greater than x. The configurationcomponent 1008 may configure each subslot of the y subslots to include afirst portion having one or more symbols for carrying at least one ofdata or control information, a second portion having a gap, and a thirdportion for carrying ACK/NACK information associated with the firstportion. The configuration component 1008 may configure each subslotsuch that the second portion may be between the first portion and thethird portion. The configuration component 1008 may configure the secondportion and the third portion to span at most one symbol. In an aspect,the configuration component 1008 may configure a number of symbols inthe first portion of one or more subslots based at least in part oncontent to be communicated. In an aspect, the configuration component1008 may configure a first sub slot of they sub slots to include adifferent number of the one or more symbols than the first portion of asecond subslot of they subslots. In an aspect, the configurationcomponent 1008 may configure they subslots such that at least onesubslot of they subslots crosses a subframe boundary.

The configuration component 1008 may provide this configurationinformation to a content component 1006, the transmission component1010, and/or a synchronization component 1012.

The content component 1006 may be configured to determine content thatis to be communicated with the UE 1050, such as URLLC content that isdetermined from a URLLC packet (e.g., a packet received from a higherlayer) and/or eMBB content. The content may include data and/or controlinformation. In one aspect, the content component 1006 may be configuredto puncture data or control information associated with eMBB withcontent associated with URLLC. For example, the content component 1006may puncture eMBB content with URLLC content in one or more subslots ofthey subslots. The content component 1006 may provide the content to thetransmission component 1010. The transmission component 1010 maycommunicate content to the UE 1050 during at least one subslot of theysubslots.

The synchronization component 1012 may be configured to determineinformation to be sent to one or more neighboring base station 1060,1070, for example, to mitigate interference. The first neighboring basestation 1060 may be a one-hop or first-ring neighbor with respect to theapparatus 1002, and the second neighboring base station 1070 may be atwo-hop or second-ring neighbor with respect to the apparatus 1002.

In one aspect, the synchronization component 1012 may be configured todetermine information indicating the subslot configuration based oninformation from the synchronization component 1012. The synchronizationcomponent 1012 may cause the transmission component 1010 to send, to thefirst neighboring base station 1060, information indicating the subslotconfiguration.

In one aspect, the synchronization component 1012 may be configured tocause the second neighboring base station 1070 to reduce transmissionpower during at least one subslot of they subslots. For example, theprovision of the subslot configuration to the first neighboring basestation 1060 may cause the first neighboring base station to send, tothe second neighboring base station 1070, an indication that the secondneighboring base station 1070 is to reduce transmission power during atleast one subslot of they subslots.

The apparatus may include additional components that perform each of theblocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIGS. 9A-9B.As such, each block in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIGS. 9A-9B maybe performed by a component and the apparatus may include one or more ofthose components. The components may be one or more hardware componentsspecifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm,implemented by a processor configured to perform the statedprocesses/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium forimplementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

FIG. 11 is a diagram 1100 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 1002′ employing a processing system1114. The processing system 1114 may be implemented with a busarchitecture, represented generally by the bus 1124. The bus 1124 mayinclude any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on thespecific application of the processing system 1114 and the overalldesign constraints. The bus 1124 links together various circuitsincluding one or more processors and/or hardware components, representedby the processor 1104, the components 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012 andthe computer-readable medium/memory 1106. The bus 1124 may also linkvarious other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageregulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in theart, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system 1114 may be coupled to a transceiver 1110. Thetransceiver 1110 is coupled to one or more antennas 1120. Thetransceiver 1110 provides a means for communicating with various otherapparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1110 receives asignal from the one or more antennas 1120, extracts information from thereceived signal, and provides the extracted information to theprocessing system 1114, specifically the reception component 1004. Inaddition, the transceiver 1110 receives information from the processingsystem 1114, specifically the transmission component 1010, and based onthe received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one ormore antennas 1120. The processing system 1114 includes a processor 1104coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory 1106. The processor 1104 isresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory 1106. The software, whenexecuted by the processor 1104, causes the processing system 1114 toperform the various functions described supra for any particularapparatus. The computer-readable medium/memory 1106 may also be used forstoring data that is manipulated by the processor 1104 when executingsoftware. The processing system 1114 further includes at least one ofthe components 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012. The components may besoftware components running in the processor 1104, resident/stored inthe computer readable medium/memory 1106, one or more hardwarecomponents coupled to the processor 1104, or some combination thereof.The processing system 1114 may be a component of the base station 310and may include the memory 376 and/or at least one of the TX processor316, the RX processor 370, and the controller/processor 375.

In one configuration, the apparatus 1002/1002′ for wirelesscommunication includes means for configuring x subframes with a subslotconfiguration that includes y subslots, and y may be greater than x. Inan aspect, each subslot of the y subslots including a first portionhaving one or more symbols for carrying at least one of data or controlinformation, a second portion having a gap, and a third portion forcarrying ACK/NACK information associated with the first portion. In anaspect, the second portion may be between the first portion and thethird portion. In an aspect, the second portion and the third portionmay be at most one symbol. The apparatus 1002/1002′ may further includemeans for sending information indicating the subslot configuration to atleast one neighboring base station. The apparatus 1002/1002′ may furtherinclude means for communicating content with a user equipment during atleast one of the y subslots.

In an aspect, a number of the one or more symbols in the first portionfor at least one subslot of the y subslots is based at least in part onthe content to be communicated. In an aspect, the first portion of afirst sub slot of the y sub slots includes a different number of the oneor more symbols than the first portion of a second subslot of the ysubslots. In an aspect, at least one subslot of the y subslots crosses asubframe boundary. In an aspect, the means for communicating the contentfurther is configured to puncture data or control information associatedwith eMBB with the content, wherein the content is associated withURLLC.

In an aspect, the apparatus 1002/1002′ further includes means forcausing at least one other base station to reduce transmission powerduring at least one sub slot of the y subslots, and the at least oneother base station may be at least a two-hop neighbor of the basestation.

The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementionedcomponents of the apparatus 1002 and/or the processing system 1114 ofthe apparatus 1002′ configured to perform the functions recited by theaforementioned means. As described supra, the processing system 1114 mayinclude the TX Processor 316, the RX Processor 370, and thecontroller/processor 375. As such, in one configuration, theaforementioned means may be the TX Processor 316, the RX Processor 370,and the controller/processor 375 configured to perform the functionsrecited by the aforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in theprocesses/flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of exemplaryapproaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that thespecific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes/flowcharts may berearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” The word “exemplary” is used hereinto mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspectdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as“at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least oneof A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or anycombination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and mayinclude multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically,combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B,or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and“A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, Aand B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinationsmay contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. All structuraland functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspectsdescribed throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to thepublic regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited inthe claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,” “element,” “device,” andthe like may not be a substitute for the word “means.” As such, no claimelement is to be construed as a means plus function unless the elementis expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of wireless communication of a UserEquipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, contentduring at least one of y subslots of x subframes with a subslotconfiguration that includes the y subslots, y being greater than x, eachsubslot of the y subslots including a first portion having one or moresymbols for carrying at least one of data or control information, asecond portion having a gap, and a third portion for carryingacknowledgment (ACK)/negative acknowledgment (NACK) informationassociated with the first portion, the second portion being between thefirst portion and the third portion, the second portion and the thirdportion comprising at most one symbol, wherein at least one subslot ofthe y subslots crosses a subframe boundary; and sending, in the thirdportion, ACK/NACK information associated with the content.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein a number of the one or more symbols in the firstportion for at least one subslot of the y subslots is based at least inpart on the content.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portionof a first subslot of they subslots includes a different number of theone or more symbols than the first portion of a second subslot of theysubslots.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the contentfurther comprises: receiving punctured data or control informationassociated with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) with the content,wherein the content is associated with ultra-reliable low-latencycommunication (URLLC).
 5. A User Equipment (UE) comprising: means forreceiving, from a base station, content during at least one of ysubslots of x subframes with a subslot configuration that includes the ysubslots, y being greater than x, each subslot of the y subslotsincluding a first portion having one or more symbols for carrying atleast one of data or control information, a second portion having a gap,and a third portion for carrying acknowledgment (ACK) / negativeacknowledgment (NACK) information associated with the first portion, thesecond portion being between the first portion and the third portion,the second portion and the third portion comprising at most one symbol,wherein at least one subslot of the y subslots crosses a subframeboundary; and means for sending, in the third portion, ACK/NACKinformation associated with the content.
 6. The UE of claim 5, wherein anumber of the one or more symbols in the first portion for at least onesubslot of the y subslots is based at least in part on the content. 7.The UE of claim 5, wherein the first portion of a first sub slot of they sub slots includes a different number of the one or more symbols thanthe first portion of a second subslot of they subslots.
 8. The UE ofclaim 5, wherein the means for receiving the content further comprises:means for receiving punctured data or control information associatedwith enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) with the content, wherein thecontent is associated with ultra-reliable low-latency communication(URLLC).
 9. A User Equipment (UE) comprising: a memory; and at least oneprocessor coupled to the memory and configured to: receive, from a basestation, content during at least one of y sub slots of x subframes witha subslot configuration that includes the y subslots, y being greaterthan x, each subslot of the y subslots including a first portion havingone or more symbols for carrying at least one of data or controlinformation, a second portion having a gap, and a third portion forcarrying acknowledgment (ACK)/negative acknowledgment (NACK) informationassociated with the first portion, the second portion being between thefirst portion and the third portion, the second portion and the thirdportion comprising at most one symbol, wherein at least one subslot ofthey subslots crosses a subframe boundary; and send, in the thirdportion, ACK/NACK information associated with the content.
 10. The UE ofclaim 9, wherein a number of the one or more symbols in the firstportion for at least one subslot of the y subslots is based at least inpart on the content.
 11. The UE of claim 9, wherein the first portion ofa first subslot of the y subslots includes a different number of the oneor more symbols than the first portion of a second subslot of theysubslots.
 12. The UE of claim 9, wherein to receive the content the atleast one processor is further configured to: receive punctured data orcontrol information associated with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)with the content, wherein the content is associated with ultra-reliablelow-latency communication (URLLC).
 13. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing computer executable code for wirelesscommunication by a User Equipment (UE), comprising code to: receive,from a base station, content during at least one of y subslots of xsubframes with a subslot configuration that includes the y subslots, ybeing greater than x, each subslot of the y subslots including a firstportion having one or more symbols for carrying at least one of data orcontrol information, a second portion having a gap, and a third portionfor carrying acknowledgment (ACK)/negative acknowledgment (NACK)information associated with the first portion, the second portion beingbetween the first portion and the third portion, the second portion andthe third portion comprising at most one symbol, wherein at least onesubslot of the y subslots crosses a subframe boundary; and send, in thethird portion, ACK/NACK information associated with the content.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein a number ofthe one or more symbols in the first portion for at least one subslot ofthe y subslots is based at least in part on the content.
 15. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the firstportion of a first subslot of they subslots includes a different numberof the one or more symbols than the first portion of a second subslot ofthe y subslots.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim13, wherein to receive the content further comprises code to: receivepunctured data or control information associated with enhanced mobilebroadband (eMBB) with the content, wherein the content is associatedwith ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC).